“HOW MUCH LONGER am I going to be holed up here, Doc? I’m supposed to start my stint on Broadway in five months. I have to prepare.”
Nate glanced up from Kyle’s chart. Kyle was sitting up in bed and doing better a couple days post-op from his LVAD surgery, but he still had a long way to go and even then he had an uncertain time ahead, hooked up to his machine as he waited for a new heart and lungs.
“I think it’s in your best interests to cancel your stint on Broadway.”
Kyle snorted and then winced in pain. “Are you crazy? This is a huge opportunity.”
“One you’ll have to pass up unfortunately.” Nate crossed his arms. “You’re hooked up to a machine. You can’t leave the clinic. That machine is keeping you alive.”
“The nurse said it was portable. She was having me walk around yesterday.”
“Portable, but you still need to be monitored and you still need to be on oxygen a lot of the time. I don’t see you tap dancing your way across a Broadway stage any time in the near future.”
Kyle grinned. That famous smile that melted the hearts of many women, but which didn’t work on Nate one bit. He actually found it annoying more than anything else when Kyle tried to use that charm on him.
“There’s no dancing. Besides, I could have a new heart and lungs tomorrow.”
Nate pinched the bridge of his nose. “You could, but it still doesn’t mean that you’ll be up on your feet in a couple of weeks. You will be in the intensive care unit for a while, your body will have to heal from a long surgery, we’ll have to monitor you for signs of rejection. It will be a long process of healing before you can return to the stage.”
Kyle sighed and laid his head back. “I didn’t ask for this.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“You paint a pretty bleak picture, Doc. At least that other doctor, at least she can give me some hope.”
Nate frowned. “Was she the one who told you you’d be up on your feet in a short time?”
“No, she’s just nice to look at.” Kyle winked.
Nate laughed. “Thanks.”
“Well, I don’t have to tell you, right? I mean, I do keep up with gossip. You and her are a thing, right?”
Nate groaned inwardly. “Right.”
“It’s about time. You’re always working; you never seem to have fun. I invite you to all my parties and you never come. Do you know how many beautiful women come to those parties?”
“I’m aware. Now, would you lie back and get some rest and either Dr. Chiu or myself will come in and look on you later.”
Kyle grinned. “I hope it’s Dr. Chiu. No offense, Dr. King, but I might just steal her out from under you.”
“Sure you will. I’ll see you later.” Nate left Kyle’s room and shook his head. Didn’t people understand the severity of transplant surgery? They thought that once they had a new organ things would go back to normal. That they’d be able to do all the same things they’d been able to do before, but it was a huge lifestyle change. The chance of rejection in Kyle’s case was high. Granted, it was getting better all the time with medical advances, but surgery was still the practice of medicine, which meant things weren’t perfect.
If only they were.
If only organs could be grown from patients’ tissues and blood. If only there wasn’t rejection. If only...
Nate scrubbed a hand over his face. He hadn’t had a moment to turn to his research since coming to Los Angeles and he was annoyed. When he was in New York his research was his companion at night and that was all he needed.
Since he’d landed back in LA, he hadn’t even glanced at it. His nights had been filled with Dr. Florence Chiu and his days had been filled with prepping Eva Martinez and her mother for their kidney transplant surgery, as well as monitoring Kyle Francis, who was his top priority.
The thing was, he didn’t really miss his research. He’d enjoyed the last couple of nights with Flo. Maybe because it was just temporary, there was no permanence to it and it made him feel safe. Since there was no permanence there was less chance of heartache.
The only problem was, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go back to the way his life had been before. Empty.
You don’t have a choice.
Nate groaned as he noticed the time. He had to grab his suit from the office he shared with Flo and try to make himself presentable for this dinner, which was the last thing he felt like doing today. Especially when this wasn’t even his place of employment.
He was just a locum surgeon, just passing through.
It’s your own fault. You had to kiss her.
And he’d wanted to kiss her when they’d been lying out under the stars. Actually, any time he was around her he wanted to kiss her. It was maddening. It was distracting and he wished he could act on it, but he couldn’t.
Nate placed the tablet he’d been using back on the charging station and headed toward the office. He’d brought in his suit so that he could make a quick change here and drive Flo to the restaurant in West Hollywood.
He just wanted to get this dinner and schmoozing over with as fast as he could. Then he could come back here and force himself to do some work on his research. His research was his life. There was no room for anything or anyone else.
When he got to the office Flo was already in there and already dressed in a suit, her long hair up and smooth, instead of the usual wisps that framed her face. His gaze was drawn to her long slender neck. She wore a red silk blouse and a tight black pencil skirt, with black heels, the kind that had a red sole.
She was absolutely stunning and he knew that this dinner was going to be a challenge.
Flo glanced up at him. “You’re not dressed yet?”
“I was just coming to do that.”
“Where were you?”
“Checking on Kyle.” Nate peeled off his white lab coat and tossed it on Flo’s couch. She frowned, moved past him and hung up his lab coat in the closet. He couldn’t help but smile to himself. “You’re such a neat freak.”
“Actually, I’m not. Just in my office. I like my workplace organized, but at home my decorating style is There appears to have been a struggle.”
“Is that a style?” he asked.
“At my apartment it is. I don’t have time to tidy it much. And I’m rarely there.”
“I would’ve never pegged you for someone who would live in clutter.”
“It’s not a sty, it’s just not as organized as it is here.” Flo crossed her arms. “I can’t believe you’re not dressed.”
“Chill, I brought my suit here. I’ll just go into your bathroom and change.” He opened the door and saw toothpaste smeared on the porcelain of the sink, scrubs wadded up on the floor and an abandoned hair straightener. There was also some lingerie on the floor. He chuckled and picked up the delicate lace with one hand. “It looks like your office bathroom has the same style as your apartment.”
Her cheeks went beet red and she snatched the flimsy garment from him. “Would you get ready, for the love of all that’s good and holy?”
Nate didn’t argue any further. It wasn’t worth it, because the gleam in her eyes brooked no argument. He quickly changed into his suit and cleaned himself up, mostly to get the smell of hospital off himself.
When he opened the door to the bathroom Flo was waiting for him. Her gaze raking him from head to toe and a finger thoughtfully tapped her chin.
“You clean up nice.”
“Thank you, Dr. Chiu. You do, too.”
She smiled. “Well, let’s get this over and done with.”
“I think we should swing by Kyle’s room. Make him jealous.”
Flo arched an eyebrow. “What’re you talking about?”
“He’s trying to move in on my territory.” And then he realized what he’d said. He only hoped that Flo took it as a joke.
“Your territory?” she teased. “Since when have I been your territory?”
“Since the rooftop, or have you forgotten?”
She rolled her eyes and took his proffered arm. They walked out of her office together and he knew, as they walked through the halls of The Hollywood Hills Clinic, that everyone was watching them.
Usually that would make him feel a bit uncomfortable, because he didn’t like to be associated with any woman. He didn’t want rumors flying about him, but he didn’t mind walking through the halls with Dr. Florence Chiu on his arm, and in those heels she was almost as tall as him. He could smell her hair. It was lavender.
There was a limo outside and Freya was standing outside. She waved when they walked over to her.
“I’m afraid I can’t go with you tonight,” Freya said.
Flo frowned. “Why not?”
“I’m needed somewhere else. I’m sure you and Dr. King can handle this dinner. Besides, it’s you two the investors want to meet. They know me.” Freya glanced at her cell phone. “I have to run, but the limo is yours and dinner is on the clinic. I’ve already talked to Dan Tana’s. Everything is a go.”
And before either of them could protest Freya was walking off in the other direction, texting someone.
“A limo. Wow.” Flo walked over to it and the chauffeur opened the door for her. She slid in and as she did so Nate caught a glimpse of her thigh. It made his blood heat and he pulled at the suddenly tight collar of his dress shirt. All he could think about was being alone with her in a limo and how much room and privacy there was for the two of them. “Are you coming, Nate? It’s great in here.”
“Yeah.” He took a calming breath and tried to chase those dirty, bad thoughts from his mind. The last thing he needed was to have an erection during a boring meeting with investors. Also because there was no way he could act on it. He hadn’t planned on doing laps tonight at the pool, but now he was.
He had to seriously get a grip, but the more he tried to tell himself that the more his grip lessened.
* * *
Flo had never been to Dan Tana’s. Actually, even though she’d been living in LA for a couple years, she really hadn’t gotten out much. She didn’t go to fancy restaurants, hadn’t since she was a child, and she certainly didn’t like investor meetings.
“You okay?” Nate asked.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well, a moment ago you were pretty excited about riding in a limo and now you’re stiff, on edge, like a rod is holding you upright.”
Flo rolled her eyes and sighed, her shoulders dropping. “Fine. I don’t like talking in front of crowds.”
“Who said there will be a crowd?”
“Well, fine, a group of strangers. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“You handled that press conference well,” Nate said.
“No, I didn’t. You did, though. I can speak to a crowd of doctors or nurses, anyone from the medical profession, but throw in people who aren’t part of the medical profession and I just want to crumple up in a ball and cry.”
Nate frowned. “That doesn’t seem like you.”
“How would you know?” She regretted the words. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “Fair enough. We haven’t known each other long, but really it doesn’t seem like you to be nervous like this.”
“It is. Trust me.” Flo began to tap her leg in agitation. “I have no idea what to say beyond ‘Give us your money.’”
He reached out and put his hand on her knee to calm the tapping of her leg. It caused a zing of pleasure to race through her, his strong hand on her knee firing her senses. He moved his hand away. Her leg tapping had stopped and she was at ease.
Flo cleared her throat. “So what should I do? Do you have any suggestions?”
“Picture them naked.”
Flo gasped and saw that devious twinkle in his eyes. He was joking with her. “You’re crazy.”
He shrugged. “There’s nothing fundamentally different about talking to a press conference or investors. You’re strong. You stood up to me the first day we met. Not many people have had the guts to do that.”
“Why? You’re not scary.”
His brow furrowed. “Thanks for that.”
“Why are you bothered by that?”
“You weren’t scared when you met me?”
“No. Why would I be?”
“You just admitted large crowds make you nervous, but when you met me you weren’t nervous?”
Flo felt her heart rate pick up speed. Of course she’d been nervous when she’d met him. He was gorgeous. He was the kind of guy who would never give a girl like her a second glance, so she’d been nervous when he’d stepped off that helicopter, looking so sexy. She just wouldn’t admit it.
And she wouldn’t admit that he made her nervous now, but in a much different way.
“No, I wasn’t nervous. You’re a surgeon, though, and only one man.”
He frowned. “Most residents and interns are nervous when they first meet me. They say I’m a bit of a monster. Cold. Detached.”
“First, I find that hard to believe, and second, I’m not a resident. I’m a surgeon. I can deal with cold and detached. My father was a businessman, a CEO, and a lot of people feared him. My mom taught me to stand up for myself.”
He grinned. “Then it should be easy to deal with a couple of investors. Just channel your inner dad and deal with them.”
“You mean curse at them in Mandarin until they do what I want?” Then she laughed as she thought of her father. He’d tried for so long to get her to speak Mandarin, but she’d had no interest in learning it, except for the swear words.
He’d be horrified to know that’s what she’d picked up in her endless classes in Mandarin. Of course, now she wished she had a second language under her belt and maybe that was something she could add to her bucket list.
“I think cursing at them will defeat the purpose.” They shared a smile and the limo slowed down and stopped in front of the restaurant.
Flo took a deep breath and stared at the front of the restaurant.
You can do this.
“You can do this,” Nate said, as if reading her thoughts.
“Maybe it shouldn’t be me. Maybe it should be you.”
He shook his head. “No, you’re The Hollywood Hills Clinic’s chief of transplant surgery. This is all you.”
“Okay.”
He nodded and opened the door, stepping out. Then he offered his hand and helped her out of the limo. As he held her hand he gave it a reassuring squeeze. It was exactly what she needed at that moment. A vote of confidence from someone she admired.
Yeah, she could do this. She had to do this.
They were whisked inside the restaurant, which was decorated in deep, rich colors, and the concierge led them to a large patent-leather booth in the far corner where the investors were waiting. As she walked through the restaurant she felt a hand in the small of her back as Nate gently guided her. It made shivers of anticipation run down her spine. To make matters worse, he looked so darned good in a well-tailored suit.
It was maddening.
“Ah, Dr. King and Dr. Chiu, I am so glad you could join us. I’m Cecil McKenzie.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. McKenzie.” Flo shook his hand and Nate followed suit.
“This is Ian Brownstone and Travis Fleming,” Cecil said, introducing the other two men at the table.
Flo shook their hands and then sat down, Nate and the rest of the men at the table sitting down only after she had.
“I have to say we were quite worried when your story leaked in the press,” Ian said. “The Hollywood Hills Clinic prides itself on privacy and protection of their clientele.”
“It was an unfortunate incident,” Nate said. “Thankfully one that was unfounded as Dr. Chiu and I were in a relationship.”
Nate was so smooth with the investors. He was obviously used to this. Flo was, somewhat, but only from watching her father schmooze clients in his business. Schmoozing was not her thing.
“Dr. King wasn’t fully aware of the clinic’s strict guidelines on privacy,” Flo said. “He is from New York.”
That got a bit of laughter from the men at the table.
“Well, we’re glad to see that it’s all been smoothed over and, honestly, it’s been spun in such a good way. We’re also extremely impressed with the pro bono case you’ve both taken on with Eva Martinez. Can you tell us a little bit about that?”
“Of course, The Hollywood Hills Clinic is working with the Bright Hope Clinic and Eva is one of hopefully many more children who will benefit from this initiative. You know, of course, that cases like this will bring in more positive press for paying clientele,” Nate said.
And he continued to talk to the investors, winning them over.
Flo was trying to pay attention, but again this wasn’t her forte and, frankly, bored the socks off her. She was pretty sure that these men didn’t want to hear about the science behind the surgery and that’s what interested her most.
Also the journey, because she’d lived it.
Only it was better they didn’t want to know about the emotions. The struggles one faced when undergoing an organ transplant, because then she would have to tell Nate about hers and that was something she would never do.
That was her scar to bear alone.
As the salads were being taken away her cell phone began to buzz and it was long distance.
“Excuse me, gentlemen. No need to get up.” Flo pulled out her phone and slid out of the booth, walking to a secluded, quiet spot by the bathrooms before she answered the call. “Dr. Chiu speaking.”
“Dr. Chiu, I’m calling from UNOS regarding your patient Kyle Xavier Francis.”
“Please go on.”
“We have organs for him. We need you to come to San Francisco and retrieve them.”
Flo’s pulse thundered through her ears as the words sank in. This was the moment. The magic moment where someone was given a second chance, but also a moment of reverence because it meant the end of a life.
A brave soul who was giving the ultimate gift.
“I’ll be there within the hour.”